An Algerine cruiser, having twenty-eight captives of
Genoa aboard, was lately chased ashore, by two Neapolitan vessels: the
crew and captives got safe ashore, and the latter, of course, recovered
their freedom. The Algerine crew was well treated, and would be sent
back by the French. But the government of Algiers demands of France,
sixty thousand sequins, or twenty-seven thousand pounds sterling, for
the captives escaped; that is, nearly one thousand pounds each. The
greater part of the regency were for an immediate declaration of war
against France; but the Dey urged the heavy war the Turks were at
present engaged in; that it would be better not to draw another power
on them, at present; that they would decline renewing the treaty of
one hundred years, which expired two years ago, so as to be free to act
hereafter; but, for the present, they ought to accept payment for the
captives, as a satisfaction. They accordingly declared to the French
consul, that they would put him, and all his countrymen there, into
irons, unless the sixty thousand sequins were paid: the consul told
them, his instructions were, positively, that they should not be paid.
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